Baling-press



3' Sheets Sheet 1.

( No Model.)

0.3. COL-ES.

BALING Buss. No. 549,957.

Patented Nov. 19, 1895.

. an R a m 2. R k na ANDREW EGRA'HAM. PNOTO-UTHQWASHINGTDKDC. v

{ No.Mode*1-.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' 0. cows.

BALING PRESS. No. 549,957. Patented Nov, 19,1895.

WHWESSES 7 IWVENTOR A 5122mm.

' ANBREW BVGMNAM.PHOTO'UIHQWASHINGTUMDC.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. COLES, OF SANDWICH, ILLINOIS.

BALlNG-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,957, dated November 19, 1895. Application filed December '7, 18 94.- $erial No. 531,144. (No model.)

have invented a certain new and useful Im,

provement in Baling-Presses; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in baling-presses and in the power by which rotary motion is converted'into the reciprocating motion by which the plunger or press is actuated.

One feature of the improvement relates to the power, which in the form shown by me is actuated by horses traveling in a circle, and has for its object an improvementwhich enables the horses to produce at each complete circle of travel a double reciprocation of the plunger and which also causes the return or back motion of the plunger to be effectuated much more rapidly than the forward or pressing motion of the plunger.

Another feature of the improvement relates to the actuation of the plunger itself during its forward or pressing stroke and causes that forward stroke to be rapid during the first part of its movement and to gradually decrease in rapidity toward the close of the stroke, while together with this decrease in rapidity of motion there is a corresponding increase of the strength of action, so that the constant steady circular travel of the horses not only produces the reciprocating motion .of the pitman and plunger-head, but produces it in such a way that its motion is rapid during the time it is returning from its pressing action and is doing no work and is variable during the time it is advancing and doing pressing work, being more rapid at the time that there is less resistance and slowing down as the resistance is increased.

Another feature of the improvement relates to what is called the feeder and to an attachment which I place upon the feeder and which I call the tucker, and still another improvement relates to the means employed by me to hold the front end of the bale, preventing its easy forward advance and utilizing it as the abutment against which the following end of the bale or following bale is compressed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows in perspective the press and the power. Fig. 2 is a plan of the gearing of the power, the top part being removed therefrom. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the pressing end of the press, showing the plunger, pitman, and the gearing by which it is actuated, the feeder and the gear by which it is actuated, one side of the easing being removed and the plunger-head being shown in section. Fig. 4 shows on an enlarged scale the means for adjusting the exit-opening of the press.

The horse-power is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It consists, essentially, of a heavy bed-piece 1,which is adapted to be secured to the ground by stakes or in any other convenient way and supports at a central point a vertical shaft 2, to the top end of which is secured a sweep 3, and upon the sweep is placed a plate 4, that extends on both sides of the shaft 2 and carries at its extremities two hanging friction-wheels 4; and at". From the frame 1 rises a second stud 5, upon which is a rock-arm 6. rock-arm 6 rises into the path of the frictionwheels 43 4 and the rock-arm 6 is engaged at each revolution of the sweep 3 by the frictionwheels 4: 4", and each time is pushed or rocked on its stud out of the path and permits the friction-wheel by which it was engaged to slip by it. Subsequent to engaging with one frictionwheel l and prior to engaging with the other.

friction-wheel 4 the rock-arm 6 is returned and the branch 6'" brought again into the path of the friction-wheels. The return movement is produced by a link 7, one end of which is secured by a pin to the arm 6 of the rockarm 6, the other end of which is secured to an arm 8 on a quadrant-rack or mutilated wheel 8,that is j ournaled on the axle 2. Above the quadrant-rack 8, on the axle 2, is a collar 9, which is keyed to the axle 2 and carries a spur 9 that engages with a sliding bolt 8", mountedupon and secured to the quadrantrack' 8. The bolt 8 is held by a suitable housing and is driven inward in the position shown in Fig. 2 by a spring located within the housing. a cam 10, (seen in Fig. 1,) held in place with One end 6 of the I Above the collar 9 is secured respect to the main framework 1 by a strap 10, that supports and guides the upper part of the axle 2, upon which the sweep is held. The useful part of the cam 10 is that shown in Fig. 1 and lies on that side of the strap 10 which is toward the rack 8 or the pinion 11. A pinion 11, held in a suitable bearing 11, meshes with the rack 8, and at that part of its shaft which projects from the frame 1 is a sleeve-coupling 11, into which engages the end of a tumbler-shaft 12.

The operation of this power is as follows: \Vhen the parts are in the position shown in Fi 2, the rotation of the sweep turns the axle 2, the collar 9, and the lug 9 The lug 9 engaging with the end of the bolt 8, drives the rack and the pinion 11. This continues until the engagement between the cam 10 and the bolt 8 or an extension 8 on the bolt forces the bolt 8 out of engagement with the lug 9 The rotation of the rack 8 has drawn the link 7 and rocked the rock-arm b, bringing the arm (5 into position to engage with one or the other of the rolls 4 or 4: The parts are adjusted so that the bolt 8" and the 11w 9" pass out of engagement at the moment of time that the arm 6 is engaged by one of these rolls, and, the lug and bolt being out of engagement, the rack is free to move backward around the axle and is rapidly pulled backward, when the arm (3", pushed in front of the roll, swings inward out of the path of that roll, the opposite arm (5 at the same time swinging outward, pulling on the link 7 and the arm 8 of the rack. Immediately when the rack swings back the bolt 8 ceases to be forced out by the cam 10, as it passes back beyond the point where it engages with the cam, and the inner end of the bolt 8" moves inward toward the axle 2 in position to engage with the second lug E) on the collar 9.

Motion is communicated from the power through the tumblin g-rod to the press through a pinion 20 and a circular rack 21.. The circular rack 21 is in the form of a segment of a wheel that is journaled in pillow-blocks 22, and on that side of the hub of this wheel which lies opposite the pinion 20 is a reciprocating pitman 23, on one end of which is a plunger or piston-head 2a and on the opposite end of which is a can1-head and appliances which act, in conjunction with peculiarly-shaped arms reaching out from the hub 21, to produeea rapid initial forward movement and a slower but powerful concluding forward movement of the piston and a rapid withdrawal of the piston slow at first, but rapidly accelerated. The

' advance movement and the return movements rear end of the pitman 23 is preferably forked, and between the branches of the fork is a curved arm 25, that extends from thehub 21, at first radially or nearly radially, and gradually turns in a curve, so that at its extreme end it is in a line substantially tangent to the circle of the rack 21. The eurvatu re of the arm might be varied within certain limits, the fittings on the end of the pitman being arranged to correspond. In the slot between the forks 2!- a at the end of the pitman and on that side of the pitman which lies under and forward of the arm 25 is journaled a friction-roll 23. This frietion-roll is fixed with respect to the head of the pitman. At another part of the head of the pitman nearer to its rear end, through each of the forks 23, is a slot 23. The axis of this lies across the axis of the pitman 23 and substantially at right angles thereto. In the slot, upon. an axle that slips alongthe slot, is a friction-roll 23. It is upon this roll that the head of the pitman is carried along the upper curve of the arm 25 when the pitman is retracted. The extreme rear end of the pitman terminates in a blunt arrow-head, one face of which 23 is utilized as a cam'surface to engage with the hub 21 and give the final short thrust of great force to the pitman. A branch of the arm 25 lies belowthe pitman and is provided with a pair of lifting-lugs 23 that engage with the under side of the pitman and lift it upward during the time of the retraction. At the extreme end of the arm 25 is a hook or enlargement 25, which prevents the accidental disengagement of the pitman from the arm 25. The movable friction-roller 23 is employed, as were it not so movable the end of the arm 25 would bind between the rollers 23 and 23" when the pitman is at its extreme backward position. By employing this movable roller I am enabled to obtain a much longer stroke of the pitman than I otherwise could without making some material change in the shape of the parts.

The extreme or outer end of the arm swings much more rapidly than the inner end, and during the first period of its forward stroke the pitman is pressed forward by the extreme outer end of the arm 25; but as the stroke advances the point of engagement between the pitman is rapidly transferred toward the inner end, until it finally reaches the hub 21, and the last compression of the bale is produced by the engagement between the round hub and the blunt end of: the arrow-head of the pitman, and as this can be brought very close to the center (within three or four inches) it is apparent that at this point, where the most force is needed and where speed of action can be dispensed with, almost any amount of power can be applied.

Forward of the mechanism described for actuating the pitman and plunger is a strong heavy frame composed of any suitable material-as, for instance, timbers 26, 27, 28, and 29. At the point where the plunger reciproeach other.

'cates this is housed in on the sides.

side a grating 31. Beyond the housed-in part the frame extends for a distance somewhat longer than the bale that is to be made, and at the outer end the frame-pieces are connected by vertical rods 32 and 33, which are provided with screw adjustments, by means of which the upper and lower frame-pieces on either side can be drawn or sprung toward Between the upper and lower frame-pieces, on each side, is a spring-standard 34, that bellies inward when the framepieces are drawn toward each other, thus constricting the opening sidewise, and across the spring 34 (and there are two such springs,

' one on either side) is a guard 35, that prevents the end of the bale from catching on the edge of the spring 34. I couple the nuts on the upper ends of the'rods 32 and 33 by a sprocketchain and furnish one of them with a handwheel. Thus the adjustment of the exit-opening is produced by the turning of the single hand-wheel, and the adjustment of all the movable parts correspond the one with the other. At the front side of the hopper 30 is an ordinary hinged folder 36. At the rear of the plunger .24 and on its upper side is a short rack 37,.a11d at the rear of the frame is j ournaled a rock-arm 38, on one end of which is a rack 39, so arranged as to engage with the rack 37 during the last part of the withdrawing motion of the plunger 24.

The extreme end tooth 40 of the rack 39 is longer than the regular teeth of the rack to insure the proper engagement between the two racks. The end of the rock-arm opposite the rack 39 is curved or bent in a long arm that strikes down into the hopper 30, and, through the hopper 30, pressing down into the cavity in front of the plunger the material that has been thrown into the hopper and is to be formed into the bale. On the front face of the packer-arm 41 is an adjustable piece 42, which I call the tucker? and this is arranged to press down that part of the material which is at the extreme forward end of the hopper. It serves to tuck the material down under the edge of the folder 36, giving to the upper surface of the bale an appearance equally as smooth and regular as that which is given to it by the frame atthe under side.

It will be understood that when material such as hay or straw is thrown into a hopper it is naturally folded one forkful at a time by the sides of the framework through which it travels, so that the under side of each small bundle of material becomes somewhat rounded and is free from ragged projecting ends. The tucker which I have added'to the packer folds in the upper ends also and gives On the upper sideis a hopper 30 and on the lower cavity can be regulated to conform to the characterof the material being treated. If the material is light, the tucker is set to penetrate more deeply than if it is heavy in character.

On the shaft 38 is aholding-arm 43, (seen in Fig. 1,) and this is actuated byareach-rod and spring-latch 44, located at any point that will be convenient for the workmen, generally immediately contiguous to the hopper.

Around the shaft 38 is a coiled spring, from which a projecting loop engages with the arm 46 and tends to rotate the shaft and arm to lift the long tooth 40 out of the path of the rack 37 and prevent the actuating engagement between the two racks. Such engagement will be prevented unless the long tooth 40 is forced downward by a power sufficient to overcome the tension of the spring 47, and this is done by the engagement between the reach-rod 48 and the arm 43 whenever it is desired to bring the two racks into engagement.

The reach-rod 48 is free from but engages with the arm 43 and acts as a stop to limit the movement of the packer under the tension of the spring 47, but does not prevent the free movement of the packer under the actuation of therack 37.

On each side of the cavity below the hopper are the ordinary retaining-forks found in presses of this character. The entire frame of the machine is mounted on wheels fortransportation, and the power is also mounted on wheels, which I have not thought it desirable to show.

What I claim is 1. A means for converting rotary into reciprocating motion comprising a suitable frame and axle, awheel on said axle, a sweep crossing the axle, means for locking the wheel to the axle during part of its revolution, a means for throwing the lock out of engagement during another part of the revolution: an offset stud and a rock-arm thereon, one branch of which is arranged to contact the sweep, the other branch of which is linked to a wrist pin on the wheel, the contact-arm of the rock arm being located normally in the path of a contact stud on the sweep and being adapted to contact said stud and to swing out of contact therewith alternate with the locking engagement between the wheel and the shaft.

2. In a baling press, in combination with the frame pieces forming the upper and lower walls of the passage way, vertical screw adjusting rods adapted to regulate the vertical extent of the opening, vertically disposed spring side pieces bending with their convex sides inward and adapted to regulate the horizontal extent of the opening, the side pieces being adapted to be flexed by the adjustment of the frame pieces,substantially as described.

3. In a baling press in combination with a reciprocating plunger and pitman therefor, a vibrating wheel, a means for driving the same, a curved arm reaching from the axle of said wheel and engaging the end of the pitman and adapted to drive said pitman with a variable motion substantially as described.

4. In a baling press the combination of a plunger and pitman therefor, a vibrating wheel and means for giving motion thereto, an arm extending in a curve from the axle of the wheel adapted to engage the end of the pitman, an arrow head terminating the pit man, the said curved arm being adapted to reciprocate the end of the pit-man across the axle of the wheel during the last part of the forward motion and the first part of the withdrawing motion of the plunger, substantially as described.

5. In a baling press in combination with a plun gcr and a rack thereon a vibrating feeder, a rack on the rock shaft of said vibrating feeder adapted to engage the rack 011 the plunger, and a tucking blade on said feeder arranged to strike into the hopper of the press substantially as described.

6. In a balin g press, in combination with a vibratory feeder, a means for actuating the same, a hopper, a folder hinged to the hopper, dropping into the path of the plunger and adapted to yield in front of the same, and a tucking blade mounted on the feeder and actin g therewith and adapted to strike close down against the folder and tuck in the ends of the material to be packed, substantially as described.

7. In a baling press, the combination of a reciprocating plunger, a pitman, a curved arni engaging therewith, an axle adapted to engage the pitman, means foractuating the axle and the curved arm, said arm being adapted to actuate the pitman through the greater part of its travel, and to force the end of the pitman into engagement with the axle during a part of its travel, substantially as described.

8. In a press, the combination of a plunger and pitman, a curved arm adapted to actuate said pitman, and having a lifting arm adapted to lift the end of said pitman during the return stroke, and means for actuating the curved arm, substantially as described.

9. In a balin g press, the combination with a plunger and pitman of a curved arm adapted to reciprocate the pitman, a friction roll carried by the pitman and j ournaled in a slot the axis of which lies across the axis of the pitman, whereby said roll is adapted to shift across the axis of said pitman, and means for actuating said curved arm, substantially as described.

10. In a balin g press,the combination with a plunger and pitman of a curved arm adapted to reciprocate the pitman, friction rolls carried by the pitman and adapted to engage alternately on the opposite sides of the curved arm, and means for actuating the curved arm, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES II. COL 1S.

\Vitnesses:

F. OLOUGH, VIRGINIA M. CLOUGH. 

